Sand

[Happy hen lover]

I used straw and it turned to rick hard mess. I changed to larger pine shaving and it helps break up the soil and control the mucky mud. Some just coat the run with a layer 2-3 " deep of wood chips like the kind the city gives away after picking up trees. ( they've been through chipper)

 

[SchwartzLakeFarmNC]

No it gets wet

I have used sand in my run for years, it's covered but with heavy rains it will get wet, and I even spray down with a hose in the hot summers and never had any problems with keeping it clean,but we do a daily maintenance and rake 1 time a week. I've found the sand to be great, but it's not for everyone I understand that. We use is the compost and only need to add a bag every so often as the girls like to dust bathe and kick it out, but no smell even when it's wet other than the normal chicken smells. We do add DE or Lime when it's dry.